Letter to the EditorMy hat is off to The Courier: Just when I was ready to give up on the youth of this country, thinking a great deal of them were self serving. I read the front page of your paper, 2016 Veterans Day. This letter was read at Friday's Veterans Day Program at the Russellville High School's campus written by students in RHS Military History Class to our veterans. This letter was one of the most inspiring letters I have ever read. I am now encouraged...

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Encouraged by our youthThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Quality of life meeting set for TuesdayMayor Randy Horton announced a quality of life and recreation focus meeting for ReImagine Russellville 2040, the new comprehensive plan for the Russellville community. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. today inside City Hall. Project planner James Walden said the meeting will focus on improving quality of life through recreation and other means. "Quality of life, parks, and trails have repeatedly been cited as priorities for the community," Wal...

State police find $1 million worth of meth in tireArkansas State Police recovered over a $1 million in methamphetamine during a traffic stop near the 75-mile marker on I-40. Ernan Orozco and Martin Medina were arrested after the vehicle they were driving was pulled over for speeding. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the officer observed both suspects appeared nervous. The officer obtained consent to search the vehicle and a K-9 officer alerted to the presence of illegal substances. The search res...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Future events in Tri-Peaks regionThe Arkansas River Valley Tri-Peaks Tourism Association, a division of tourism of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, recently met in a full-board session and reviewed future events planned in each area. Tri-Peaks covers six counties — Perry, Conway, Yell, Pope, Johnson and Logan. Pope County • A Christmas parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 beginning at the Old Gardner Junior High and continuing north on State Highway 7. The ro...

Arkansas Tech University selected as Military Friendly SchoolRUSSELLVILLE—Arkansas Tech University has achieved the distinction of Military Friendly School for 2017 following compilation of data by ratings organization Victory Media. The designation is based upon exceeding benchmark standards in six areas: academic policies and compliance, admissions and orientation, culture and commitment, financial aid and assistance, graduation and career and military student support and retention. Assessment by Vict...

Jim Dickerson: Vietnam and Iraq War veteranJim Dickerson, a local veteran of the Vietnam War and Iraq War, served in multiple branches of the military from 1970-2008 until retirement. Dickerson, husband to Myra, father of four and grandfather of 11 with a 12th on the way, said he had his first feel for the military in 1970 when he was drafted. Prior to that, he looked at joining the Air Force and completed all of the necessary steps except being sworn in. “They wanted me to be an air t...

Lamar native Frost to appear in upcoming movie 'Spectrum'Shelby Frost, 25, of Lamar, will appear in an upcoming independent film called "Spectrum." "Spectrum" is directed by Lucas Milbourn. Frost has appeared in school plays and now she is getting a taste for onscreen acting. She will play a side role character as a receptionist. This will be her first film. Other actors include Dillon Barnhouse, 26, of Russellville. He will appear in the film as a doctor. This is also his first film. Barnhouse's wi...

Storm drains not for your yard wasteFalling leaves may harmlessly aggregate in yards, but can effectively plug city storm drains. Kurt Jones, Public Works director, urged Russellville citizens to properly dispose of yard waste during the changing of seasons. "Our storm drain systems are not designed to convey solids of any kind," Jones said. "They're designed to carry a flow of water." Waste like sediment, leaves and lawn clippings can clump up and disrupt the flow of water, oft...

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BY SIERRA MURPHY
murphy@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Wonder Boys fall in season finaleSEARCY -- Nationally fifth-ranked Harding University completed the first undefeated football regular season in school history with a 42-7 Great American Conference win over Arkansas Tech University at First Security Stadium in Searcy on Saturday afternoon. The Bisons (11-0) had already clinched the GAC championship outright before Saturday. Their win over the Wonder Boys likely assured Harding of the opportunity to host a first-round game in t...

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BY SAM STRASNER
arkansastechnews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

ObituariesDon Ezell DANVILLE -- Don Ezell, age 75, of Russellville died Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. He was born Jan. 17, 1941, in Paris to Wilburn Pearle and Ethel Beckett Ezell. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Atkins and the former mayor of Atkins. Don was a retired team member of Tyson Foods of Dardanelle. In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his brother, Roy Ezell and a granddaughter, Za...

El Paso visioning exercise creates excitement around communityA visioning exercise for El Paso Avenue was conducted Nov. 3 as a follow-up to the Pop Up El Paso event on Oct. 22. Pop-Up El Paso displayed various markets, vendors, food trucks and activities down El Paso Avenue to show residents the potential of the street. The visioning exercise acted as a follow-up to that event which consisted of a small gathering of Arkansas Tech University (ATU) students, business owners, city officials, patrons and th...

Old Post BBQ files for liquor licenseThe owner of Old Post BBQ in Russellville has filed an application with the state Alcoholic Beverage Division for a private club permit to dispense alcoholic beverages. A legal published in The Courier indicated the application was filed Oct. 12 by Raymond Black. According to the Alcoholic Beverage Division of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, it would be the 24th Private Class A Dry County permit granted in Pope County. E...

Price gets scholarship for optometry collegeMEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Mary Price of Russellville was recently honored with the Arkansas Optometric Association's Dr. William Townsend Memorial scholarship at Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. The award recognizes an outstanding Arkansas student studying optometry and comes with a $1,500 award. Price is the daughter of Kathy Price of Russellville; and the granddaughter of Helen and Jack Price, also of Russellville, and Tomela Keenan of Dard...

Dear VeteransDear Veterans, The soldiers in the cold night of the middle east. The soldiers on boats in the raging Atlantic. The soldiers flying across the light ridden skies of the world. The soldiers that hit the dreary beach in Normandy. The soldiers that fought through the dense jungles in Vietnam. The soldiers that spent months in those damp, cold trenches. The soldiers that wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for the am...

Local United Steel Workers celebrate 47 years in River ValleyThe United Steel Workers local 884L (USW) celebrated being a part of the Arkansas River Valley for 47 years with a picnic. The active members, retirees and their families attended the celebration. USW local 884L recognized local businesses who made the event possible: Firestone Tube plant, Tractor Supply, Motion Industries, Kroger, Newton Tire, Beacon Tire, Hindman's Tire, Advanced Auto, Good Year Tire, O'Reilly's of Russellville, Autozone, Wo...

2016 Veterans DayRussellville High School had their annual Veterans Day program in The Center for the Arts Friday morning for students, community members and local veterans. Special guest speakers were Congressman Steve Womack and Command Sergeant Major Tony Bowen. The RHS Theatre class performed a piece entitled "A Soldier's First Steps" based on interviews from their peers who have been inspired to serve our country following their graduation, the RHS Choir ...

Tech celebrates veterans during luncheonTwo members of the Arkansas Tech University Hall of Distinction were among the speakers at a Veterans Day luncheon hosted by the Arkansas Tech Office of Veteran Services at Chambers Cafeteria West Dining Room on Friday, Nov. 11. Steve Womack, a U.S. Army veteran who represents the Third Congressional District of Arkansas in the U.S. House of Representatives, and retired Major General William Wofford, former adjutant general of the Arkansas Nat...

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By Sam Strasner
FOR THE COURIERThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley